WISE — Residential customers of Old Dominion Power Co. (ODP), a subsidiary of Kentucky Utilities Co., are stepping up in a big way to help their neighbors this winter, the utility announced this week.

KU’s ODP service base includes most of Wise County and portions of Lee and Scott counties.

Coupled with the utility’s year-round donation matches and increased match of $2 for every $1 donated by customers since last October, ODP’s Virginia customer base and the utility contributed more than $16,000 in 2013 toward the utility’s heating assistance program — WinterShare — setting a new annual record since the program began three years ago.

The WinterShare Fund is administered by area third-party nonprofit organizations that make the financial assistance available to Southwest Virginia residents who may be struggling to pay their heating bills this winter.

The fund will carry through the end of March, matching $2 for every $1 donated by ODP customers to the heating assistance program.

“Our customers’ generosity is staggering and we couldn’t be more proud to share these results,” said John P. Malloy, vice president of customer services for Kentucky Utilities and Louisville Gas & Electric, another KU subsidiary operating in Kentucky.

“Doubling our customers’ donations gives us the ability to stretch our customers’ generosity even further, providing greater access to assistance funds and helping more community members this winter who may be struggling to pay their heating bills.”

ODP residential customers may make a tax-deductible donation to KU heating assistance programs by making a monthly pledge or one-time contribution.

Even rounding up a monthly bill payment to the next whole dollar makes a difference, the utility said.

Eligibility for heating assistance is determined by third-party nonprofit organizations in the ODP service area of Virginia. The utilities play no part in determining eligibility.

Families seeking assistance will be interviewed by one of 11 participating area nonprofit organizations located in the city of Norton, Pennington Gap, Big Stone Gap, Clintwood, Lebanon, Gate City and Jonesville.

Visit lge-ku.com to learn more about the assistance programs and the participating nonprofit service partners by region.